Electric switch construction



Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES l d'lidl i'i' FFHCE ELECTRIC SWITCH GONSTRUCTION Louis Ludwig, New York, N. Y.

Application July 8, 1947, Serial No. 759,653

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to flush toggle switches and more particularly to improved structure for attaching the switch body or casing to a mounting plate therefor.

Switches of this type are generally well known and they include a toggle element which is resili ntly connected to a handle or lever. the latter being swingable past resilient dead center position to either of two end positions. This resilient action in the switch body tends in some constructions to force the lever and mounting plate or cover away from the switch body or base.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide novel and useful structure for interconnecting the mounting plate or cover and the base or body in which tabs on the plate are used, no threaded or other relative ly expensive parts are required.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described which has a self-tightening action tending to keep the parts in proper cooperation. This is important in keeping the working parts of the switch clean, but also from the point of view of safety from fire hazard.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a combination toggle switch base and mounting cover plate which may be assembled by a simple bending and pressing operation.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the mounting plate in a planar condition thereof.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in seotion. of a switch assembly embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 33 on 2.

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in perspective of the right hand end of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view corresponding to an upper left portion of Fig. 2.

In accordance with the invention, the device generally indicated by reference character Id, comprises broadly, a body or base H, a cover or mounting plate l2, an operating lever 13, and a wall plate 14.

The body it is preferably moulded of insulating material such as a synthetic resin of the phenolic type and includes a left end wall E5 and a right end wall it. The other portions of the body may have any suitable external configuration but the upper surface of the body is preferably flat so as to fit well against the under surface it of the mounting plate ii. The construction of the end walls l5 and it is substantially identical. The walls l5 and it are provided with grooves 5d and 2%) having inner surfaces 2% and 22, and side surfaces 23, 24 and 253, respectively. As the grooves Ill and 21] approach the top surface li, they are narrowed forming the side surface or lateral locking tions 2l-3l inclusive. In the area where the last mentioned portions are inwardly offset, the end walls i5 and it have wedge surfaces 3l-3 i and latching portions 3538.

The mounting plate i2 is preferably stamped from sheet metal such as steel and includes a pair of threaded holes 59 and ll which may be engaged by screws (not shown) by which the wall plate 3 is attached in a well known manner. The plate l2, outwardly of the orifices ll may be provided with other conventional mounting arrangements such as the orifices A2 and which may be penetrated by the screws id and 45 used to mount the device Ill upon a suitable support (not shown). Centrally thereof the mounting plate 52 is provided with an opening il which is penetrated by the lever l3. outwardly of the opening 47, the plate l2 has two locking elements 5B and 5! in the form, of lugs which are integral with said plate at the bending portions 48 and 49.

The locking elements 59 and 5! are substantially identical, and each includes a pair of lugs or latching members 52, 53 and 54, 55 and a stem or looking member 5%, 5!, respectively. While openings in the plate 12 have been shown disposed laterally with respect to the locking elements 5!! and 5!, these are desirable for punch and die clearance and where feasible, the looking elements 59 and 51 may be sheared directly from the plate leaving only the bend portions 63 and 49.

In assembling the device l8, with the switch mechanism (not shown) disposed within the body 1 l, and the lever l3 projecting, the plate !2 is lowered thereupon and centered so that the bend portions 48 and 49 are in juxtaposition with the upper ends of the grooves l8 and 26 respectively. Following this, the locking elements 58 and 5| are swung downwardly through substantially about the bend portions 48 and 49 until the inner surfaces of said locking elements 58 and El contact the inner surfaces 2! and 22 respectively. In being so bent, the locking elements have their stems 56 and 51 pass between the side surfaces 21, 28, and 29, 30 respectively while the inner edges of the latching members 52, 53 and 5, 55 ride upon the wedge surfaces 3!, 32 and. 38, 34, respectively. This causes the cover or mounting plate [2 to have its inner or lower surface 13 drawn tightly against the upper surface ll of the body H. The point of intersection of the wedge surfaces 3|34 with the surfaces of the latching portions 3538 respectively, form humps or protuberances which are preferably slightly farther from the apex of the angle formed on the under surface of the bend portions :38 and 139 than are the inner surfaces of the latching members 5253. Thus, when the locking elements 58 and 5| are pushed against the inner surfaces 2! and 22, they pass this high point with a kind of dead center action. This obtains a latching effect which materially increases the force necessary to accidentally disconnect the plate from the body.

As best seen in Fig. 5, there is a tendency on the part of the locking elements 58 and 5! to spring back slightly from a position in which they contact the surfaces 2i and 22 which is caused by a resiliency in the material of which the locking elements are composed. In accordance with the present construction however, this tendency results in a movement of the latching members 5255 toward the above mentioned humps or protuberances, thereby tending to promote a tight engagement of the mounting plate with the body.

It may thus be seen that I have disclosed a novel and useful construction of the class described, which may be manufactured in large scale at low cost. The present construction eliminates the need for threaded parts for assembling the cover and body of flush toggle switches and assures a substantially tight connection therebetween.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In an electrical housing body and mounting plate having complementary interconnecting means, the improvement comprising; said body having a top surface for receiving the mounting plate and an end wall, said end wall having an inclined surface angled downwardly and inwardly of the housing body and a latching surface extending inwardly from the inner end of the inclined surface and intersecting said inclined surface at an obtuse angle with respect thereto, said mounting plate having a locking element with a lug extending laterally therefrom, said locking element being struck from the mounting plate and bent downwardly over the end wall of the housing body, said lug engaging the latching surface to retain the mounting plate upon the housing body, the distance between the edge of the top wall under the bent locking element and the latching surface at the inward end thereof being less than between the same edge of the top wall under the bent locking element and said intersection whereby said inclined surface may guide the lug as the mounting plate with the locking element is being attached to the housing body and whereby intersection of the inclined and locking surfaces provide a high point to hold the locking element against the outward spread thereof upon force being applied tending to separate the mounting plate from the housing body.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 and the end wall having a recess for receiving said locking element, said inclined and locking surfaces being within the confines of said recess.

' LOUIS LUDWIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,160,713 Bentley May 30, 1939 2,175,098 Wertzheiser Oct. 3, 1939 2,201,743 Petersen May 21, 1940 2,201,751 Wertzheiser May 21, 1940 2,231,976 VonHoltz Feb. 18, 1941 2,248,201 Russell et al July 8, 1941 I 2,292,084 Pistey Aug. 4, 1942 

